2016 World Cup of Hockey

[Gaudreauvertime]

Kevin with a bad giveaway on Sweden's 3rd goal. Been pretty decent otherwise. Backlund playing well, chippy and competitive per usual.

Frolik was excellent for the Czechs in their victory over Russia. Such a good 2 way player, but he made the play to the net that tied the game with a minute left.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I'll never understand teams that name their best player their captain just because he's their best player. If he's their best player and a great leader? Sure. But naming a kid that hasn't played a full season, heck, barely half a season your captain is ridiculous. But then you look at who's running the team so it makes sense. He'll be named captain of the Oilers in a few weeks too just because.

[Gaudreauvertime]

Originally Posted by calumniate

Eichel was the opposite of head on a swivel last night. Surprised he didn't get hurt

Eichel was awful. Keep him away from Johnny.

[stemit14]

Think it's probably better to spread Johnny and McDavid onto separate lines. They both are guys you want carrying the puck up the ice and setting up other players. Figure guys that are natural finishers are better fits with them... Like Larkin and Saad.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I'll never understand teams that name their best player their captain just because he's their best player. If he's their best player and a great leader? Sure. But naming a kid that hasn't played a full season, heck, barely half a season your captain is ridiculous. But then you look at who's running the team so it makes sense. He'll be named captain of the Oilers in a few weeks too just because.

With players of this talent level and pedigree, you can name them captain. Who else is it going to be?

Crosby was 19, Toews 20, Yzerman 21.

Examples of this not working are Lecavalier and Landeskog (depending how you feel about this one - Lecavalier straight up wasn't ready for it). Both were 19.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Who's better than Connor McDavid on this roster? Besides Johnny, who isn't known for being a locker room leader.

I am not convinced that McDavid is the best player on this roster. I think that is likely to change in the course of a year, but for now I think Ekblad and MacKinnon are both today possibly better players. They were certainly better in the first game.

But this is really besides the primary point, which is that it is ridiculous to name one of the youngest players on the roster the team Captain given the other options, and in the light of the fact that he has not played a full season of professional hockey.

[CliffFletcher]

Naming McDavid captain was a marketing move, pure and simple. Probably mandated by the league. There's no way in normal circumstances that one of the least experienced players on the roster would have been named captain ahead of guys who are far more experienced and accomplished like Saad, Couturier, and Ekblad.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am not convinced that McDavid is the best player on this roster. I think that is likely to change in the course of a year, but for now I think Ekblad and MacKinnon are both today possibly better players. They were certainly better in the first game.

But this is really besides the primary point, which is that it is ridiculous to name one of the youngest players on the roster the team Captain given the other options, and in the light of the fact that he has not played a full season of professional hockey.

I probably would have named Ekblad captain. But the guys who run the Oilers are in charge of North America, and if they're considering making him captain anyway, is there a better way to see how he handles it than this?

Or are we upset that they're violating the sanctity of Team North America?

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am not convinced that McDavid is the best player on this roster. I think that is likely to change in the course of a year, but for now I think Ekblad and MacKinnon are both today possibly better players. They were certainly better in the first game.

But this is really besides the primary point, which is that it is ridiculous to name one of the youngest players on the roster the team Captain given the other options, and in the light of the fact that he has not played a full season of professional hockey.

Mackinnon? Hes not even better than Monahan today let alone McDavid.

Mackinnon was pretty bad the first game although scoring 2 goals he was losing the puck any time it was on his stick.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Mackinnon? Hes not even better than Monahan today let alone McDavid.

Mackinnon was pretty bad the first game although scoring 2 goals he was losing the puck any time it was on his stick.

he was the best player on the ice

[GirlySports]

great pass by jokkipakka

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Naming McDavid captain was a marketing move, pure and simple. Probably mandated by the league. There's no way in normal circumstances that one of the least experienced players on the roster would have been named captain ahead of guys who are far more experienced and accomplished like Saad, Couturier, and Ekblad.

Sean Couturier is a career 0.44 PPG player in 350 NHL games. He was 9th in Calder voting and this year was 8th in line for the Selke.

Saad has had success, but doesn't even wear a letter on the friggen Blue Jackets.

If Monahan were here, I'd say it's a three way battle between he, Ekblad and McDavid. Since he's not, it's Ekblad or McDavid. And if I coach McDavid in the real world, I'm going to see how he handles a locker room full of young star players before I name him captain of my NHL team.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Mackinnon? Hes not even better than Monahan today let alone McDavid.

Mackinnon was pretty bad the first game although scoring 2 goals he was losing the puck any time it was on his stick.

MacKinnon and Gaudreau were the best forwards in that game, and for what it is worth, I think he and Monahan are both players I would want on my team ahead of McDavid for the 2016–17 season.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

great pass by jokkipakka

That was a thing of beauty.

[Aleks]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

great pass by jokkipakka

Pretty heads up receive by Haula too

[fire_starter]

Nice Kevin!

[Textcritic]

I really hate Sweden.

*disclaimer: I think the country is terrific and all people I have met from Sweden all very nice, but in every sporting event I hope that Sweden is scorched by a thousand suns.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

MacKinnon and Gaudreau were the best forwards in that game, and for what it is worth, I think he and Monahan are both players I would want on my team ahead of McDavid for the 2016–17 season.

Will agree to disagree. It's pretty well known Mackinnon has been declining. Just look at his point totals the last 2 years...he needs to have a great year this season.

I'd take McDavid and I wouldn't even think twice.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Will agree to disagree. It's pretty well known Mackinnon has been declining. Just look at his point totals the last 2 years...

That is patently ridiculous. MacKinnon is barely 21-years-old.

I think he suffers from playing for cluster**k organisation.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

That is patently ridiculous. MacKinnon is barely 21-years-old.

Declining in the sense that he hasn't been able to live up to his rookie season again and he's not looking like he's improved since his rookie year and that's concerning.